Lt James Alexander Weatherhead Binnie was born in Glasgow on June 25th 1894 he flew with the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and then the Royal Air Force (RAF). Binnie originally served with the Highland Light Infantry but transferred to the RFC in 1916. He obtained his Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate at Cheltenham Flying School on 16 February 1917. He was subsequently posted to 48 Squadron where he had nine victories flying the Bristol Fighter in the summer of 1917. On 28th October 1921 he was mentioned in dispatches for distinguished service